This was The End, in so many ways. Ravens-Steelers at M&T Bank Stadium yesterday was it, for an awful season and for an awful losing streak. And, possibly, for an era, for better and for worse. When the Ravens' 27-21 victory concluded - their only win in the season's final 11 weeks - the players and coaches talked about relief, that the nine-game skid was over, and the season, too. You can make a case for this being the worst season the team has experienced since it left Cleveland. Even with the win, the atmosphere was as bleak as the franchise has seen in a season finale: too many empty seats, Terrible Towels, soaked spectators and Pro Bowl players wearing jackets and ski caps.

After three seasons as a Ravens assistant coach, Rick Neuheisel is going home. Returning to his beloved college ranks and his alma mater, yesterday Neuheisel was named head coach of UCLA, the school he quarterbacked to a Rose Bowl victory in 1984. Neuheisel will be on the Ravens' sideline for today's regular-season finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers. "[The college game] is something that has been in my blood," Neuheisel said. "I've missed it the last five years." His five-year contract reportedly will pay him $1.25 million each season, plus incentives.

After three seasons as a Ravens assistant coach, Rick Neuheisel is going home. Returning to his beloved college ranks and his alma mater, yesterday Neuheisel was named head coach of UCLA, the school he quarterbacked to a Rose Bowl victory in 1984. Neuheisel will be on the Ravens' sideline for today's regular-season finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers. "[The college game] is something that has been in my blood," Neuheisel said. "I've missed it the last five years." His five-year contract reportedly will pay him $1.25 million each season, plus incentives.

The Ravens' new offensive coordinator will be Rick Neuheisel or Jim Fassel, sources close to the situation said yesterday. Neuheisel is considered the favorite for the position at this point, but sources have said Fassel still could emerge as a candidate considering his lack of head coaching opportunities. Ravens officials indicated that no decision is imminent and that they could take another couple of weeks for a thorough evaluation. "The search for the offensive coordinator is ongoing and Rick Neuheisel is part of that comprehensive search and study," coach Brian Billick said.

To no one's surprise, the Ravens named quarterbacks coach Rick Neuheisel the offensive coordinator yesterday. No offense to Neuheisel, but after Saturday's poor offensive performance against Indianapolis, there was hope the team might move in another direction. What this team doesn't need is another "yes man" for head coach Brian Billick, but a coordinator who'll move this offense in a different direction, someone who is creative, daring and bold enough to move away from a system that is too bland and simplistic.

This was The End, in so many ways. Ravens-Steelers at M&T Bank Stadium yesterday was it, for an awful season and for an awful losing streak. And, possibly, for an era, for better and for worse. When the Ravens' 27-21 victory concluded - their only win in the season's final 11 weeks - the players and coaches talked about relief, that the nine-game skid was over, and the season, too. You can make a case for this being the worst season the team has experienced since it left Cleveland. Even with the win, the atmosphere was as bleak as the franchise has seen in a season finale: too many empty seats, Terrible Towels, soaked spectators and Pro Bowl players wearing jackets and ski caps.

THERE WAS a time when Rick Neuheisel was on top of the world. Private jets owned by sensationally wealthy University of Washington boosters picked him up for covert interviews. He swooped into Seattle from Boulder, Colo., signed a juicy contract, bought a house on the shores of Lake Washington and took over a fraying Huskies program. In his first season, 1999, Neuheisel pushed Washington back to the elite ranks of the Pac-10 and the NCAA. Recruiting violations? Pushing the letter of NCAA law into gray areas?

Say hello to Charlie Weatherbie and goodbye to the Southwest Conference, but please, no tips of the helmet.Believe it or not, it's less than two weeks to the start of the college football season. It will all end Jan. 2, with a real, live national championship game in the form of the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl . . . unless the Rose Bowl delivers a distraction in the form of a 12-0 team.Here's an idea as to what will happen in college football in 1995.Put her inFor the first time, a woman might play major college football, and it could happen against Maryland.

Rick Neuheisel has been conflicted nearly from the time he arrived in Baltimore. Three years ago, he was trying to revive his career as the quarterbacks coach with the Ravens while hoping to keep his name floating in the college football consciousness in case a high-profile job materialized. Less than two months from his 47th birthday, and five seasons removed from his last head coaching job, Neuheisel's exile from the college game could be close to ending. Neuheisel has been mentioned prominently as a candidate at UCLA, his alma mater.

Rick Neuheisel has been conflicted nearly from the time he arrived in Baltimore. Three years ago, he was trying to revive his career as the quarterbacks coach with the Ravens while hoping to keep his name floating in the college football consciousness in case a high-profile job materialized. Less than two months from his 47th birthday, and five seasons removed from his last head coaching job, Neuheisel's exile from the college game could be close to ending. Neuheisel has been mentioned prominently as a candidate at UCLA, his alma mater.

To no one's surprise, the Ravens named quarterbacks coach Rick Neuheisel the offensive coordinator yesterday. No offense to Neuheisel, but after Saturday's poor offensive performance against Indianapolis, there was hope the team might move in another direction. What this team doesn't need is another "yes man" for head coach Brian Billick, but a coordinator who'll move this offense in a different direction, someone who is creative, daring and bold enough to move away from a system that is too bland and simplistic.

THERE WAS a time when Rick Neuheisel was on top of the world. Private jets owned by sensationally wealthy University of Washington boosters picked him up for covert interviews. He swooped into Seattle from Boulder, Colo., signed a juicy contract, bought a house on the shores of Lake Washington and took over a fraying Huskies program. In his first season, 1999, Neuheisel pushed Washington back to the elite ranks of the Pac-10 and the NCAA. Recruiting violations? Pushing the letter of NCAA law into gray areas?

The Ravens' new offensive coordinator will be Rick Neuheisel or Jim Fassel, sources close to the situation said yesterday. Neuheisel is considered the favorite for the position at this point, but sources have said Fassel still could emerge as a candidate considering his lack of head coaching opportunities. Ravens officials indicated that no decision is imminent and that they could take another couple of weeks for a thorough evaluation. "The search for the offensive coordinator is ongoing and Rick Neuheisel is part of that comprehensive search and study," coach Brian Billick said.

Say hello to Charlie Weatherbie and goodbye to the Southwest Conference, but please, no tips of the helmet.Believe it or not, it's less than two weeks to the start of the college football season. It will all end Jan. 2, with a real, live national championship game in the form of the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl . . . unless the Rose Bowl delivers a distraction in the form of a 12-0 team.Here's an idea as to what will happen in college football in 1995.Put her inFor the first time, a woman might play major college football, and it could happen against Maryland.

Wanting to force more turnovers on defense, the Ravens have resorted to some strong-arm tactics. That is, the strong arm of quarterbacks coach Rick Neuheisel. Ravens Training Camp Through Aug. 19, McDaniel College, Westminster. Today: 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Cooling turnovers The Ravens forced 26 turnovers in 2005, their fewest since 1998. A look at the turnovers produced by the defense over the past six seasons: Year .... Int. .... Fum. .... Total 2000 ..... 23 ........ 26 ........